Garment or attachment for controlling the distribution, pressure, and circulation of body fluids



Jam 24, 1950 D. M. CLARK ETAL GARMENT 0R ATTACHMENT FOR, coNTRoLLTNG THEDISTRIBUTION, PRESSURE, AND CIRCULATION oF BODY FLUTDs 4 sheets-sheet 1Filed sept. 14, 1946 NVENTORS: DAVID MCLARK EARL HWooD @YM 4MM ATTORNEYMn. 24, 1950 D. M. CLARK ETAL c-ARMENT 0R ATTACHMENT FoR coNTRoLLTNG THEDISTRIBUTION, PRESSURE, AND CIRCULATION OF BODY FLUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Sept. 14. 1946 4 INVENTORS: l ig, l DAVID MCL/ARK EARL H VVooD BVM.f/ z//d *M a ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1950 D. M. CLARK ETAL Eww GRMENT 0RATTACHMENT FOR CONTROLLING DISTRIBUTION, PRESSURE, AND CIRCULATION 0FBODY FLUTDS Filed sept. 14, 194e 4 sneeTs-sneei a INVENTORSf DAVID M.CLARK EARL H. Woon ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1950 D. M. CLARK ETAL GARNENT oRATTACHMENT RoR coNTRoLLING THE DISTRIBUTION, PRESSURE, ANU CIRCULATIONoF BODY FLUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Filed Sept. 14, 1946 INVENTORSI DAvlDM. CLARK EARL.. H. Woon YMaMY' ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1950 GARMENT0R ATTACHMENT FOR C'ON- TEOLLNG THE DISTRIBUTION, ERES SURE, AND-CIRCULATION OF BODY David M. Clark, Worcester, Mass., and Earl H. Wood,Rochester, Minn.; said Wood assigner to -said Clark ApplicationSeptember 14, 1946, Serial No. V697,118

(Cl. 12S- 1) The present invention relates to an improved garment, orattachment for controlling the distribution, pressure and circulation ofbody fluids and thereby enable the occupant of an aircraft to withstandthe abnormal forces to which his body is subjected as a result of rapidand extreme changes in the aircrafts speed and direction of night.

Experience has shown that maneuvers of fast and high powered aircraftcreate forces which are frequently great enough to render the occupantstemporarily blind and sometimes unconscious. These forces act upon thebody uids, particularly blood, and the tissues of the body so that whena fast airplane is banked and turned, oi' dived and then leveled off,these body fluids are driven down, away from the head. The resultingreduction or stoppage of blood circulation to the head, if oi sufficientmagnitude and duration causes a dimming or completel loss of vision,known as blackout and if the force is great enough and is sustained longenough, complete unconsciousness may result.

Since the forces discussed above increase in proportion to the square ofthe velocity of the airplane and in inverse proportion to the radius ofthe turn, the maneuvering of fast airplanes is deiinitely limited 4bythe ability'of the pilot and other occupants to withstand the forcesthat cause the above described severe physiological sure of body luidsasto enable the 4wearer to l successfully withstand abnormal 4forcescreated by rapid and extreme changes' inv the speed and direction of theaircrafts night. This garment is particularly characterized by thecompleteness of the protection afforded the' wearer and its simplicityand lightness permits the wearer to sit normally, unencumbered by heavyparts that would interfere with his necessary movements.

Briefly stated, the device of the present invention consists ofagarment, or an attachment, having incorporated therein a' bladder, orseries of bladders, which Vare adapted to be inflated automatically-soas' to lprogressively apply pressure on the thighs, the abdomen and, ifdesired, the legs and arms of .the wearer.

associated body areas, and restrict the iicw ofA body iiuids to thedependent portions lof the body Y The inflated bladders are adapted toconform closely tothe,`

Z fronrthe rapid and 'extreme changes in an air; crafts speed and thekdirection' oi flight.

Because of the location of' the bladders 'at criti= cal points inthevascular system of therbody, the garment is also adapted for extremelyhigh altitude dying", 'so as to pressurize the body and pro# videconsiderable protection to the wearer from the disturbing physiologicaleffects of extremely high altitudes. The garment may also be erm ployedfor medical treatments and other and further objects and advantages of'our invention will be made apparent by the following detaileddescription thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which Y F Fig'. l is a view in front elevation of the outsideappearance of a protective garment in the forniA Fig'.- 5 iS a ViewSimilar to' Fig] 1 illustrating a modied form of suit with certainbladders bute side the garment.

Figi 6 diagrammatically illustrates bladder system employed with thesuit of Fig. 5.

Fig, 7 is a detailed View showing the application' of bladders to theoutside of the legs with an arrangement for distributing the bladderprese" sure around the leg's.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one leg bladder attachment, as seen fromthe rear.

Fig'. 9 is a sectional along the line 9-9 of Fig. '7.-

Fig.` l0 illustrates the application of the pressure distributingarrangement with reference to the bladder of an upper arm area; I

Fig. 11 illustrates application of the pressure` distributingarrangement to the abdominal area. Like reference characters refer tolike parts in the different figures. u A

Referring rst to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is shown, for purposes ofillustration, as being embodied in a garment made as a complete cov=orali sui-t l,- naving certain areas thereof' lined*- area of thewearer.

The lowermost bladders 2 are positioned in the vicinity of the calves ofthe wearer. the intermediate bladders 3 are positioned in the vicinityof the thighs of the wearer, and the uppermost bladders 4 are positionedover the abdominal area, as will be apparent from the dotted lineshowing of Fig. 1. The several groups of bladders on each side of thesuit I are connected in series with each other by tubes 5 so that air,or any other fluid pressure medium for infiating the bladders, willenter the right-hand and left-hand groups of bladders progressively,this progressive inflation being an important feature of the presentinvention. For this purpose, the lowermost bladder 2 of each group ofcalf bladders is connected by a tube S to a common supply tube l', whichleads from a special valve that is adapted to automatically control theadmission of the pressure medium to the supply tube 'I from a suitablepressure source indicated diagrammatically at 9 as a tank or pump. Thetubes 6 lead off from the supply tube 1, with one tube 6 passing aroundthe neck of the suit and then downwardly parallel to the other tube.

The top of the middlemost bladder 4 of one group of abdominal bladdersis connected by a tube IIJ, passing up and around the back of the neckof the suit I to join a short tube II from the innermost bladder 4 ofthe other group of abdominal bladders. These two tubes I0 and I I areconnected in common to a tube I2 leading back to the control valve 8which is adapted to regulate the amount of pressure in proportion to thecentrifugal or other abnormal force to which the wearer of the suit I isbeing subjected as a result of the sudden and extreme changes in thespeed and direction of flight of the airplane.

The specific construction of the control valve 8 forms no part of thepresent invention, and it is sufficient for an understanding thereof tostate that the valve 8 is operated automatically by a weight 8a tocontrol the passage of pressure from the source 8 through the tubes Iand I2 in response to the creation of abnormal forces during the flightof the airplane. For purposes of illustration, the valve 8 is indicatedas being of the type disclosed in the pending application of David M.Clark, and Henry W. Wilder iiled July 12, 1946, Serial No. 683,098, fora protective system for aircraft occupants.

Whenever the valve 8 functions automatically in response to forcesdeveloped during the flight of the airplane, the air from the pressuresource 9 is admitted to the supply tube 'I from which it passes throughthe tubes 6 to simultaneously enter the lowermost bladder 2 of eachgroup of calf bladders. The air continues upwardly through all thebladders 2 and the tubes 5 to enter the lowermost bladders 3 of thethigh bladders, and then passes upwardly from these bladders tosimultaneously enter the outermost bladder 4 of each group of abdominalbladders. The air under :pressure then progresses across the bladders 4towards the middle of the abdomen to complete the progressive infiationof all the bladders 2, 3 and 4 of the system. The net result of theabove described functioning of the bladder system is that the air supplyenters at, or near, the ankles of the wearer, and then progressesgenerally upward in the vicinity of the thighs before reaching theuppermost abdominal bladder 4, so that the wearer of the suit issubjected to a pressure wave effect starting at the ankles and ending inthe abdominal area. As a result, the wearer 4 of the suit is enabled towithstand the most disturbing of the abnormal forces developed duringflight of the airplane without dimming of vision, or loss ofconsciousness.

By reason of the inter-connection of the several groups of bladders 2, 3and 4 in series, with the same relation on each side of the wearersbody, the pressure wave described above is applied uniformly on eachside so that there is no possibility of any unbalancing effect whichmight result from an unsymmetrical disposition of the pressurized areaswith relation to the central axis of the wearers body. After all of thebladders have become inflated through the tube 'I to the desired degree,as a result of the functioning of the valve 8, excess air, overphysiological requirements for the conditions encountered, is permittedto escape through the tubes I0, I I and I2, with the amount of escapingair being adjusted by the valve 8 to maintain the necessary pressure inthe entire bladder system.

As previously pointed out, the abdominal bladders 4 are connected in twoseparate groups on each side of the body with the pressure workinginwardly from the outermost bladders to the return tubes I0 and II. Thisgroup arrangement of the abdominal bladders facilitates donning of thesuit by the use of a centrally located fastener device I3 in the frontof the suit as shown in Fig. 1. In view of the importance of effectivelymaintaining a pressurized area over the center of the abdomen, the suitprovides a special construction of the central area which preventsseparation of the bladders and will insure close engagement between theinnermost bladders 4 of each'abdominal group, so that full pressure willalways be maintained over the center of the abdomen after the suit hasbeen donned.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each group of abdominal bladders 4 isconfined in a pocket I4 constituted in part by the front of the suit Iand a rear Vwall I5. The rear wall I5 of each pocket I4 extendssubstantially to the edge of the front fastener device I3 and it isconnected to the front of the suit above and below the bladders 4 bystitching I5a. 'I'he edge of the wall I5 between its points ofconnection to the front of the suit is free and a panel I6 is interposedbetween the rear wall I5 and the front of the suit to constitute anexpansible end for each pocket I4.

In order to provide for bringing the bladder pockets I4 together withtheir end panels I6 face to face, each rear wall I5 provides a flap I'Iwith the abutting edges of the flap I'I provided with the cooperatingparts of a slide fastener device I8. The fastener device I8 is shownclosed in Fig. 3 with the front central fastener open to show thefullness of the end panels I6 of each bladder pocket I 4, the bladders 4then being deflated.

When donning of the suit has been completed by fully closing the frontfastener device I3, as shown in Fig. 1, the end panels I6 are disposedin abutting relation. Therefore, by reason of the fullness of thesepanels I6, subsequent inflation of the abdominal bladders 4 will causethe innermost bladders of each group to closely engage each other, asillustrated in Fig. 4. As a result. full pressure is maintained in thecenter of the abdominal area which would not be possible were theabutting edges of the bladders to be confined in tight pockets on eitherside of the fastener device I3. I

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown a modified form of garmentwherein certain of the bladders are disposed outside the garment in00.--

operation-.with anarrangement whereby theinilatedibladders are caused toconform closely-to the limbs of the wearer, as well as to the. ab-

dominalarea. This modiedrform of suit I9 is shown as a coverall in Fig.and the arrangementof the bladders employed in connection withl thissuit isishownv diagrammatically iny Fig.: 6. Theubladderarrangementconsists of thigh bladders conned within a conforming. sleeve 2|encircling each thigh po'rtion, arm bladders- 22 confined within aconforming sleeve 23. encircling each Vupperarm portion, and two groupsof abdominal bladders 24; disposed inside the abdominal area of the suitI9 in association with a conforming belt.25. The; uppermost thighbladders are connected to the outermost .abdomg inalbladders 21|v bytubes` 26 andbranch tubes'A through thetubes 2`| to simultaneously enterthev lowermost bladder 20. of each group of thigh bladders. From thesebladders, the air continues upwardly to the tubes to finally enter the.

outermost bladder 24 of each group of abdominal bladders, as well as theseparate arm bladders 22. Admission of the air to the bladders 22 and24completes theA progressive inflation of the system andas shown the valve29 maintains'the` pressure without the necessity of a return tube suchas is shown in Fig. 2. The net result of theabove described functioningof the bladder system is that the pressure medium enters in thevicinityl of the thighs and then progresses upwardly to thev arms andthe abdominal area,

with the pressure being so regulated as vto be .y

arterially occlusive during the period ofl ex-` posure to the greatestforces.

As previously described, the thigh bladders-2U and the arm bladdersy 22are associated with the sleeves 2| and 23 respectively so as to closelyconformthe inflatedbladders to the leg o r the arm of the wearer. Thesame bladder conforming action is also obtained' in connection with theabdominal bladders 24 by means of the belt A25 encircling the-waist ofthe suit' I9 and these pressure distributing arrangements will next bedescribed in detail with reference to Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive.

As best shown in the left-hand side of Fig. 7, the group of thighbladders 20 is carried by the outside ofthe upper leg portion 39 of thesuit 9 with the bladders extending lengthwise around the thigh portionand secured to the outside of the suit with their ends spaced apart onthe undersideof the thigh of the wearer. The sleeve 2| which enclosesthe bladders 2U isformedof separate ilaps 3| shown turned backenV thelefthandv` leg of Fig. 7 and closed over the'bladders. 20cm theright-hand leg by means of a slide fastener. 32. The left-hand flap 3|is secured to the back of the leg portion ofthe suit by means Similarlythe right-hand flap 3| provides aseries Cil 6 of straps alternatelyarranged wlthzthe lefthand. strapsv andextending behindthe thigh nor-Vtionto a pointwhere theyare secured to the suit jacenttoithe'right-handfedge of the bladdersZ;

Theabove-described arrangement is shown vin section infFig:V 9L. and inperspective in Fig. 8 looking from the rear of the suit, with thebladders 29" indicated in dotted lines. From this showingit is apparentthat the straps 33 are in crisscross frelation behind the thigh of thewearer so that whenthe front fastener32 isclosed, theV flaps 3| tend toconform the bladders 20 to thel shape of the Wearers thigh. Normally,the

strapsare relatively loose when the bladders 2U are :in.a-deflated-condition as shown in-Fig. 8.

However; when admission of air pressure tothe bladders 20 infiatesthesame under conditions previously described, the front walls of thebladders 20 exert anA outside pressure on the then closed ilaps 3| of.theY sleeve 2|, as shown in the transverse sectional view of Fig. 9,taken through the thigh .ofthe wearer. This outward pressure onthe aps2|is indicated by the .small arrows in Fig. 9 and asthe lbladdersZIJ arefully inflated,

.. thispressure'results in each ap 3.| exerting a pull inthezdirectiorrofv the large arrows in Fig. 9.

Theseipullsaaretransmittedby vthe crossed straps f 33 to oppositeendsofthe bladders. 2|) withthe net'result thatzthe bladdersfareconformedftothe; wearers .thighttoi distributethe pressure over theentireffrontthigh; area and` around the sides- In order topermit'iadjustment'of each 'sleeve 2| togtheizthighs of wearers of'different'build one flapz3|1of eachipair provides'al gusset 34extendingzparallel to the fastener with the edges ofthe gusset" adaptedtof be.` adjustably drawn together by atseries of straps 35 andcooperating buckles 36. Afterzawearer has donned the suit I9, he isabierto make theproper adjustment of the girth ofthe -sleever2'l throughregulating the relative tightnessrorlooseness of the gusset 34 by meansofthe. straps 3 5 and bucklesl 3 E The above described arrangement forconforming the inflated thigh bladders 2i] to thewearer y isxalso'applied tothe armv bladders 22. through their associated sleeves 23. Asshown'in Fig. l0, each bladder22 .extends part way around the arm with'a spacing .between vthe points ofl attachment of its 4endsto theupperarm portion 31 of the suit.

The associated sleeve 23 Vis shown as being made in one,` piecepartiallyencircling the arm, with ends of th'esleeve 23 connected to thearmV portion 3T adjacent to opposite ends ofthe bladder 22by meansof`crossed straps 38. Obviously, when the arm bladder 22 is fully inated,the outward pressure `exertedon the'encircling sleeve 23 will result inopposedY pulls on the ends of the bladder, with a resulting forming ormoldingv of the bladder 22 around the upper arm of the wearer toI assurea most effective application of the-pressure. The sleeve A23 provides agusset 39 and suitable straps 4B and buckles 4| for adjusting the girthof the'sleeve.

Aspreviously indicated, the bladders 24 for thev abdominal Aarea aresecured inside the waist portion of thesuit'l9 Awith an arrangement forhold--v 11whereinthe .portionsencircled by the belt 25' are shown indotted lines..

'The belt 25 comprises flaps 24 normally held closed by a slide fastener43 in front of the suit. Each flap 42 extends around the waist of thesuit and partially behind, and terminates in an enlargement 44, the edgeof which is connected by straps 45 to the opposite side of the back ofthe suit. The straps 45 from each flap 42 are in crisscross relation so,that when the belt 25 is closed by the fastener 43, inflation of thebladders 24 against the flaps 42 will cause opposed pulls on the back ofthe suit to exert forces tending to conform the bladders 24 of eachgroup closely to the outside of the abdominal area.

In order to increase the comfort of the wearer of the suit I9, there isprovided an improved crotch construction shown in Fig. 7 consisting ofoutside leg gussets 46 and centrally located panels 41 extending belowthe waist of the suit and beneath the crotch. The fullness of thesegussets 45 and panels 4l gives a freedom of action which insures thecomfort of the wearer of the suit when in a sitting position, even withthe thigh bladders and the abdominal bladders 24 fully inflated.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention thereis provided an improved device for preventing an unnatural distributionof fluids within a human body which is subjected to abnormal forces setup when the body is accelerated in space, as when in an aircraft. lFurthermore, by reason of the inherent capabilities 'of the device, ourgarment or attachment may also be effectively employed by hospitals, andclinics, for the treatment of patients who are suffering from variousmaladies affecting the human vascular system. When so employed forpurelymedical purposes, the garment is effective to either maintain anormal distribution of body fluids, or to actually increase a patientsblood pressure. It has been found that the massaging effect of theapplied bladders particularly when used to obtain a pressure wave,produces Very beneficial results on patients suffering from certain ofthe above noted maladies.

We claim:

1. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independentleg-encircling sections attached to an depending from said body section,a plurality of bladders incorporated with and spaced longitudinally ofeach of said leg sections with each bladder disposed transversely ofsuch section, a plurality of short tubes connecting the bladders of eachleg section in a series relation, a bladder incorporated with said bodysection, a pair of tubes each connecting said last mentioned bladderwith that bladder of a respective one of the leg section bladder groupswhich is nearest the body bladder, a pair of fluid-supply tubes each ofwhich is connected to that bladder of a respective one of the legsection bladder groups which is farthest removed from said body bladder,and means to connect said two last mentioned tubes to a fluid supplysource.

2. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section having a slit openingextending longitudinally thereof, fastening means carried upon said bodysection for closing said slitopening, a pair of bladder elements ofwhich each is incorporated with said body section at a respective one ofthe sides of said slit opening, two independent leg-encircling sectionsattached to and depending from said body section, a plurality ofbladders incorporated with and spaced longitudinally of each of said legsections with each bladder disposed transversely of such section, aplurality of short tubes connecting the bladders of each leg section ina series relation, a pair of 8 tubes each connecting a respective one ofsaid two body bladders with that bladder of a respective one of the legsection bladder groups which is nearest such body bladder, a pair offluidsupply tubes of which each is connected to that bladder of arespective one of the leg section bladder groups which is farthestremoved from said body bladders, and means to connect said two lastmentioned tubes to a fluid supply source.

3. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independentleg-encircling sections attached to and depending from said body sectionso as to define therebetween and at their juncture with said bodysection a crotch portion, said body section having a slit openingextending longitudinally thereof and toward said crotch portion,fastening means provided upon said body section for closing said slitopening, a pair of bladders each disposed adjacent a respective side ofsaid slit opening and adjacent said crotch portion, pockets provided bysaid body section on each side of said slit opening for confining saidbladders, with each pocket providing a free panel whose one edge portionis secured to said body section directly adjacent the slit opening,fastening means associated with the two opposite edge portions of saidpanels so as to cooperate with said flrst fastening means for bringingsaid panels in face-to-face engagement when both fastening means areclosed, whereby said bladders,

when inflated, are maintained in close engage' ment along the line ofsaid slit opening, a bladder associated with each of said leg portions,and means for connecting all of said bladders with a uid supply source.

4. A garment, comprising, an inner bodyencircling sleeve, an inflatablebladder extending transversely about said inner sleeve so as partiallyto encircle the same, an outer sleeve extending transversely about saidbladder and said inner sleeve` so as partially to encircle the latterand being positioned so that the open end' 5. A garment comprising, abody-encircling section, two independent leg-encircling sectionsattached to and depending from said body section so as to definetherebetween and at their juncture with said body section a crotchportion, said body section having a slit opening extendinglongitudinally thereof and toward said crotch I portion, fastening meansprovided upon said body section for closing said slit opening, a pair ofbladders each disposed adjacent a respective side of said slit openingand adjacent said crotch portion, pockets provided by said body sectionon each side of said slit opening for confining said bladders, with eachpocket providing a free panel whose one edge portion is secured to saidbodyl section directly adjacent the slit opening, fastening meansassociated with the two opposite edgeportions of said panels so as tocooperate with-v alongthe line of saidslitv opening, a plurality ofbladders incorporated with and spaced longiw tudinally of each of saidleg sections with each bladder disposed transversely of said section, aplurality of short tubes connecting the bladders of each leg section ina series relation, a pair of tubes each connecting a respective one ofsaid two body bladders with that bladder of a respective one of the legsection bladder groups which is nearest such body bladder, a pair offluid-supply tubes of which each is connected to that bladder of arespective one of the leg section bladder groups which is farthestremoved from said body bladders, and means to connect said last tWomentioned tubes to a fluid supply source.

6. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independentleg-encircling sections attached to and depending from said body sectionso as to dene therebetween and at their juncture with said body sectiona crotch portion, said body section having a slit opening extendinglongitudinally thereof and toward said crotch portion, fastening meansprovided upon said body section for closing said slit opening, a pair ofinatable bladders each disposed adjacent a respective side of said slitopening and adjacent said crotch portion, an inflatable bladderextending transversely about each of said leg sections so as partiallyto encircle the same, an outer sleeve extending transversely about eachof said leg bladders and its associated leg section so as partially toencircle the latter and being positioned so that the open end portionsthereof substantially coincide with those of its associated bladder, aseries of straps connecting each open end portion of a respective one ofsaid leg sleeves to its associated leg section at a location adjacentthe opposite open end portion of said sleeve to cause said sleeve toexert opposed pulls on said bladder and conform it to the contour of theleg of the wearer in response to inflation of said leg bladders, andmeans for connecting said bladders to a source of iiuid supply.

7. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independentleg-encircling sections attached to and depending from said body sectionso as to dene therebetween and at their juncture with said body sectiona crotch portion, said body section having a slit opening extendinglongitudinally thereof and toward said crotch portion, fastening meansprovided upon said body section for closing said slit opening, a pair ofbladders each disposed adjacent a respective side of said slit openingand adjacent said crotch portion, pockets provided by said body sectionon each side of said slit opening for conning said bladders, with eachpocket providing a free panel whose one edge portion is secured to saidbody section directly adjacent the slit opening, and fastening meansassociated with the two opposite edge portions of said panels so as tocooperate with said first fastening means for bringing said panels inface-to-face engagement when both fastening means are closed, wherebysaid bladders, when iniiated, are maintained in close engagement alongthe line of said slit opening.

DAVID M. CLARK. EARL I-I. WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,228,115 Holste Jan, 7, 19412,361,242 Rosett -1 Oct. 24, 1944 3D 2,379,497 seumeyer July 3, 19452,397,710 Versoy et al. Apr. 2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 Number CountryDate 483,111 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1938

